Texas is a big place, so there’s no wonder why this state has quite a few things that you just wouldn’t expect here. From driving a World War II tank to visiting the Eiffel Tower, you’ll be shocked at these 10 things you didn’t know you could do in the Lone Star State.
Go on a Drive-Thru Safari
You don’t have to travel to Africa to go on a safari. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio offers a one-of-a-kind experience where guests actually drive through the property to view exotic, endangered and native wildlife species. These animals are allowed to roam, unlike a traditional zoo. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has been caring for unique animals for 30 years on its 450-acre habitat.
Visit the Eiffel Tower
When you’re in Paris, you visit the Eiffel Tower. And when you’re in Paris, Texas you visit the Texanized replica of the iconic French structure. At 65 feet tall, Paris, Texas’ Eiffel Tower was completed in 1993. However size isn’t the only difference found between the Texan and French towers. The Texas Eiffel Tower is adorned with nothing other than a red cowboy hat.
View the World's Largest Squirrel Statue
This nutty Texas attraction, located on Highway 71 outside of Austin, draws almost 100 passersby each day, all wanting to snap a picture of the world’s largest squirrel statue. Dubbed Ms. Pearl, this 14-foot squirrel is the mascot of the Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company. After checking out Ms. Pearl, grab a pecan pie from the shop. Even if you’re stopping by after shop hours, you still can snag a fresh, full-sized pie from the vending machine out front.
Drive a World War II Tank
For those who have ever dreamed of driving a World War II tank, your dream can come true at DriveTanks in Uvalde, Texas. The tank course includes fun obstacles, and you can even shoot a cannon out of this massive piece of weaponry. DriveTanks also has a number of machine guns and automatic weapons to shoot too. This Texas attraction is the perfect place for the history buff or gun aficionado.
Visit a Toilet Seat Museum
Barney Smith, a retired plumber who has always had a passion for art, decided to mix his two hobbies, and that is how the toilet seat museum was born. He started collecting toilet seats for art over 50 years ago. Now, you can visit his collection, which showcases over 1,300 toilet seats with various designs, paintings and adornments. If you just so happen to have a toilet seat lying around, donate it to Barney when you visit his museum. He will personally engrave your name on the seat, so you too can be a part of this unique art project.
Make a Bayou Burp
An environmental art project has turned into a unique feature found along the Buffalo Bayou in Houston. On one of the pillars of the Preston Street Bridge, there is a big red button with no label. Well when you press the button, the bayou below will “burp.” In 1998, an artist created the button, which adds bubbles of oxygen underneath the water, making the bayou not smell so bad from stagnation. The bubble is a fun addition to the bayou.
Visit Easter Island and Stonehenge in the Same Day
Nowhere else on Earth can you visit both a replica of Stonehenge and replicas of the heads found on Easter Island in the same place, except in Ingram, Texas. The Stonehenges were built first from artists Al Shepperd and Doug Hill. The Texas version of the Stonehenge structure, known as Stonehenge II, is 90 percent the width and 60 percent the height of the original mysterious structure found in England. When Shepperd visited Easter Island after his construction of Stonehenge II, he then built the 13-foot tall Easter Island heads. These artistic spectacles are jaw-dropping attractions that you would never think were in the Lone Star State.
Go to America's Only Bathroom With See-Through Walls
Enjoy a unique view of the outside world all from a toilet seat. This bathroom with see-through walls in Sulphur Springs allows anyone inside of the bathroom to see the happenings of the courthouse square outside, but privacy remains intact. This bathroom is made of one-way glass. From the inside, enjoy great people-watching of the passersby in the square. However from the outside, the bathroom looks like a box made of mirrors, so anyone inside is not seen from the outside world. This thrilling and unique concept is a must-visit for anyone passing through Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Go on a Historic Treasure Hunt in Houston
There are rumors that Hermann Park in Houston is home to buried treasure, well, sort of. In 1981, the author Byron Preiss wrote a book called The Secret: A Treasure Hunt. Before the book was published, he allegedly hide 12 keys inside casques in 12 different locations in the United States. Whoever found a key, Preiss would then reward them with one of the 12 birthstone jewels he had set aside in a safety deposit box specifically for the hunt. To find the locations of the keys however, you must read his book and decipher the 12 paintings and 12 verses in it to figure out where exactly he placed the keys. Preiss died in 2005 but his treasure hunt is still on the minds of many Houstonians. It is alleged that Hermann Park is one of the spots where Preiss hid one the keys.
Visit a Cathedral of Junk
Another man’s trash is another’s treasure. And this couldn’t be more true when it comes to the attraction known as Cathedral of Junk in Austin. Made from scraps and trash and anything else you could imagine, Vince Hannemann started construction of the cathedral in 1988. This yard art project now has an estimated over 60 tons of junk. Visitors are allowed to peruse this unusual place. Anything from hubcaps to televisions to car tires, bottles, ladders, utensils and other knickknacks make up the incredible structures found on the property. The cathedral has become a staple to the culture of South Austin.
